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It’s cold and blustery outside, and that means you need to bundle up, shovel and salt the driveway…and deal with that mouse in the house.

The truth is, mice start moving indoors in the fall, so if you’ve got a family of mice living rent-free in your home, chances are, they first started moving in sometime around October.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t get your mouse problem under control. Here’s why you might need Vancouver pest control this winter, what you can do to keep mice out, and how to deal with a problem when it arises.

What Attracts Mice?

The first step to dealing with any pest infestation is preventing one from happening. With that in mind, let’s talk about a few things that draw mice to your house faster than the Pied Piper.

Open Food Sources

The #1 culprit in any mouse problem is almost always food. Specifically, tasty open food sources that scream “Free buffet!” to all the critters on the block.

Despite what you see in cartoons, cheese isn’t actually a mouse’s first choice in delicacies. Mice actually like to eat fruit, seeds, and grains.

That said, mice are omnivorous and inventive, so a mouse in your house will eat almost anything it can get its paws on–dog food, candy, and even (if food is particularly scarce) other mice.

Open Water Sources

Of course, mice don’t just have food on the brain. Like most animals, they’re also thinking about water sources.

Mice in the wild will find ponds, rivers, and streams, but mice in a residential neighborhood have it easier–all they have to do is find an open water source in your home.

Like, for example, your pet’s water dish. They don’t even have to climb to reach it.

You can’t eliminate pet water bowls (Spot needs water, too) but you can make it less attractive by getting smarter with placement. Make sure your dog has fresh water when playing outside, and bring the water dish indoors with you when they’re done. Empty out water bowls at night so mice won’t have an easy resource while you sleep.

Trash

However, as previously noted, mice are inventive. So when it comes to food, they won’t just be interested in your fresh groceries. They often go for a less appetizing food source: your garbage.

Remember, mice are foragers by nature. When they’re hungry, they’re not going to be all that picky if food is readily available.

In fact, humans are the perfect companion species to mice in this regard. We’re not particularly good at cleaning up after our meals–we tend to leave a lot of food debris and scraps in our trash after a meal, tasty tidbits that mice will happily take advantage of.

Clutter and Crumbs

Mice thrive in messy human houses. They love clutter, and they especially love the crumbs that come with an unclean house.

This is for two reasons. First, all those tiny morsels that a human wouldn’t notice can add up to a tasty lunch for a mouse. Second, clutter and debris are perfect for a mouse to set up a nice, quiet nest and start having mouse babies.

Warmth and Shelter

Of course, the fact that mice find these handy boxes, nooks, and debris in your house is an added benefit for them. They could make a nest in the walls just as easily.

The immediate attraction for a mouse looking in on your warm, cozy home is, well, the warmth and coziness.

Mice will be most attracted to your home in cold winter months. They know it’s an easy food source, and it’s pre-made shelter against the elements.

There’s also some evidence to suggest that pregnant female mice are more likely to find their way into your house. As with many mammals, pregnant females instinctively seek out a safe shelter to hide and gather food without much risk of predators.

That’s bad news for you because if a pregnant mouse makes her nest in your home, you could be dealing with a full-blown infestation in no time at all.

Lack of Predators

Alongside the attractiveness of pre-made shelter is one simple fact: in the wild, mice have to worry about natural predators. Your house, on the other hand, is conveniently designed to keep wildlife (include natural predators of mice) out.

The obvious answer to Jerry taking up residence is to introduce Tom, as cats are natural predators to mice. Some breeds are known as good mousers.

However, you shouldn’t introduce a cat to your house simply to keep mice away. Even cats from famous mousing breeds may not have good hunting instincts. It’s best to try to keep mice from getting in at all.

If you have a cat to help catch them, this is a fringe benefit (for the cat, at least–you probably won’t enjoy it when they leave a dead mouse at your feet to teach you how to hunt).

Why Has a Mouse Moved into Your House?

All of that tells you why mice are attracted to houses generally, but it doesn’t tell you why a mouse moved into your house specifically. Mice are among the most common pest infestations in Washington, but not every house has them.

Here are a few reasons you might have a figurative neon sign reading “Mice Welcome!” over your house.

You Didn’t Keep Up with Landscaping

Picture this: you’ve got a lovely row of bushes close to your house. They’re quite attractive during the warmer seasons. Except, you haven’t exactly raked the leaves in a while.

Those leaf piles, especially close to your house, are a mouse magnet. A mouse seeking entry into your house has an easy hiding place while they search for a way indoors–you may never even see them.

To keep this from happening, all vegetation should be at least two feet away from your house, and you should always keep the weeds trimmed and the ground cleared so that mice don’t have a hiding place.

You Haven’t Rodent-Proofed Your Exterior

Of course, it’s not enough just to take away a mouse’s hiding place. You also have to remove their avenues of getting into your house in the first place.

Have you checked on the state of your weather-stripping lately? What about any cracks between the building material?

If you haven’t checked (or done any repairs lately) then those issues can easily become an open door for rodents to slip through.

Identify Your Rat or Mice Infestation

Sometimes, though, all your best efforts still can’t keep the rodents from finding their way indoors.

If it turns out that you do have a pest infestation, it helps to know what kind of rodent you’re dealing with. This will help you set traps accordingly and check the right entry points to keep them from finding their way inside again.

Here are a few of the most common mouse (and rat) species in Vancouver, what they look like, and how to tell one infestation apart from another. Remember, some of them might look cute, but they’re actually dangerous to have in your house.

Common House Mice

The most common culprit in a mouse infestation is the common house mouse. It’s also the mouse species you probably picture when you imagine a mouse.

That’s because house mice (as the name implies) are mice that most commonly live near humans. They’re typically grayish-brown or black and about six to seven inches long from nose to tail tip. They have large ears, a small, slender body, and fine fur.

They tend to eat plants, insects, and any meat they can get. Unfortunately for the humans they live with, house mice also reproduce often, with litters of 3-11 young after a gestation period of 18 to 21 days (do the math on how many months are in winter and you’ll be horrified by how many potential litters one female house mouse could have).

These are the kind of mice that usually leaves rice-grain-sized droppings for you to find, dark brown and with pointed ends. This type of mouse also likes to gnaw through wood, asphalt shingles, and soft mortar.

Deer Mice

Less common in the city of Vancouver (but still a potential problem for homeowners), are deer mice, so called for their resemblance to deer.

The mouse’s upper body is gray to reddish brown, with a white underbelly and white legs. It has prominent, leaf-like ears like a baby faun and big eyes–the perfect animal for kinderschema, the same human psychological phenomenon that leads us to think big-eyed, fat-faced babies are cute.

They might look cute, but they’re actually quite dangerous–deer mice are often carriers for the hantavirus, a disease with a serious impact on your lungs.

Black/Roof Rats

Rats might be something out of your worst nightmare (or a Halloween horror movie). Unfortunately, rats may be on the rise in Vancouver.

Roof rats, also called black rats, are the most common rat species in Vancouver. As their name implies, they usually have sleek dark gray or black fur, with large ears and a tail longer than their bodies and heads put together.

Before you get worried, you won’t mistake a roof rat for a house mouse–including their tail, roof rats are nearly twice as large as house mice, ranging from 13-17 inches long and weighing 8 ounces (compared to the house mouse average of ¾ of an ounce).

They reproduce less often than house mice (four to seven litters per year compared to eight for house mice), but they also have more young per litter (6-12 on average).

As their name implies, roof rats are climbers–given the choice, they prefer roof and attic spaces. So if you see one, make sure to check these areas first.

Norway Rats

Norway rats aren’t quite as common as roof rats, but they’re still a common pest for Vancouver homeowners.

These rats are distinct from their roof-dwelling cousins because they’re wider than roof rats and brownish-red in color, with eyes and ears that are small relative to the size of their heads. They’re also bigger and wider than roof rats, weighing about 10-17 ounces. Their tails are shorter than the length of their bodies, but they’re still about 12-18 inches long.

Unlike roof rats, Norway rats are ground dwellers. They like moist conditions and tend to live close to the ground level in crawl spaces and burrows. If you see Norway rats in your home, check your basement first for any further signs of infestation.

Where Mice Get Into Your House

Now that you know the types of mice and rats that might find their way into your house, it’s important to know where, specifically, they might find entry into your home.

The truth is, mice don’t need much to find an entryway into your home. It might not seem like a mouse could fit into a narrow crack or an opening under your door, but that’s because you’re applying the logic of human anatomy to mouse anatomy.

Mice can fit through small spaces because of their size, but that’s not their only advantage.

There’s a myth that says that mice have collapsible skeletons and another that says they don’t have collarbones. Neither is actually true. In reality, despite appearances to the contrary, the only limitation on the size of a hole a mouse can fit through is the size of its head, as a mouse’s head is actually the largest part of its body.

So: if a mouse head can fit through a gap, the rest of its body can follow, which is why mice can fit into spaces only a few centimeters wide.

Knowing that, let’s take a look at a few common places mice use to get into your house.

Gaps Between Building Materials

A common culprit in mice infestations is gaps in the building material that makes the exterior of your home.

One of the most frequent entry points? A gap between bricks and soffit. Even in new houses, such gaps show up all the time. A few other common gap-entries include:

Gaps between the roof and soffit

Gaps between the siding and foundation

Gaps between the roof and fascia

Remember: mice are excellent climbers, and they only need a few centimeters of clearance.

Weep Vents

Weep vents are a common structural design feature, and they serve a clear purpose: they allow any water that somehow found its way behind the brick to escape into the open air. This also airs out the wall to keep the structure dry.

Unfortunately, mice are experts at taking advantage of weep vents.

They can’t be sealed completely or you could be facing water damage. You can cover them, but mice can chew through plastic coverings with relative ease.

Roof Vents

Mice and roof rats that make their way to your roof can have a field day with entry points.

A favorite access point for roof-dwelling rodents is the plastic and aluminum vents on your roof. In fact, in many cases, all that stands between a mouse and your attic is a thin bug screen–one that a mouse has no qualms about chewing through.

If you have a chimney, this is another easy entry point for mice. After all, they’re excellent climbers–what’s a downward crawl through a chimney to a mouse?

To that end, make sure to invest in a chimney cap to keep them out, and make sure to check it regularly to ensure there aren’t any gaps.

HVAC and Utility Lines

We weren’t kidding when we said mice are inventive.

Utility and HVAC units often have to pump exhaust outside the home. To do this, pipes and vents are run through exterior walls. This means that builders have to cut holes to allow for heating, air conditioning, water, and electrical lines–and they often cut them too big just to be safe.

That’s all the leeway a mouse needs to get from the outside of the house to your exterior wall. And once they’ve made it that far, they can climb along the pipes and lines to go all throughout the house, all while using the same set of pre-cut holes.

It would be brilliant…if they weren’t wreaking havoc on your house.

Door and Window Frames

Of course, sometimes, mice don’t need to be all that inventive to find a way into your house. Sometimes, all they need is a gap between your door and the floor–if it’s two centimeters or more, they can probably make the squeeze.

Any doors that hang unevenly, or that hang too high, are perfect doors for a mouse to slip through. Don’t think that weather stripping will necessarily save you either–they can chew through loose rubber weather stripping fairly easily, which is often how mice get into your garage.

Ways to Rodent-Proof Your Home

As the old cliche goes, the best offense is a good defense. That applies to sports as well as mice infestations.

If you want to keep mice out, the best place to start is blocking off the areas of your house that mice would find attractive. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind.

Seal Points of Entry

To keep mice out, start by removing their way in.

As a rule, you’ll need to seal off any entry point that’s ¼ of an inch or larger (a mouse’s head is the largest part of its body, but then again, it doesn’t have a very large head). Obviously, not all entry points can be sealed (like weep vents and utility lines) but you can eliminate opportunities.

Check any door and window screens for gaps. If your window screens have any tears, make sure to replace them. You should also check your siding for any gaps, and make sure to seal any cracks in your foundation. If there are gaps where your pipes enter your home, fill them with caulk (and make sure to check and refresh the caulk).

Seal Your Food (and Your Pet’s Food, Too)

Mice, much like humans, are hungry. They’re worried about where their next meal is coming from.

Make sure to send a loud and clear message that there won’t be any dinner service at your house.

You should aim to keep as much food as you can in sealed, airtight containers (especially things that mice like, such as cereal, rice, nuts, or fruit). And don’t forget about your pet’s food, either–mice are equal opportunity eaters, so your pet’s food should also be stored in sealed containers.

You should also make sure to regularly check for any crumbs on the floor and under appliances like the oven, fridge, and dishwasher. Keep your countertops and floors clear of residue, too.

Elevate Firewood

Your wood-burning fireplace is a delight when the winters get cold and the nights grow longer. Unfortunately, the stockpile of wood you keep on hand is also a beloved hideout for mice and rats.

This is for much the same reason as leaf piles near your house–it’s close to the ground and easy for rodents to hide in, which means they can search for access points without you ever seeing them.

To prevent this, store your firewood away from your house, and make sure it’s elevated at least 18 inches off the ground. Rodents can climb, but they’re less incentivized to use your firewood as a hideout if it doesn’t get them entry into your house.

Call a Pest Control Company

They’re experts in dealing with infestations like this, so they know where to look to handle those pesky rodents. An exterminator is also far more efficient in killing your pests than the traditional bait-and-trap method.

Got a Mouse in the House? Need a Vancouver Exterminator?

Have you got a mouse in the house? Have you got several mice in the house?

If so, it’s time to call a Vancouver pest control company. That’s where we come in.

We’re experienced in mice control and rat control, and we know how to tackle an infestation quickly and effectively. These rodents will wish they never came to your doorstep.

If you need our help dealing with your pest problem, don’t wait. Click here to get in touch.

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1. Unsealed Food Containers

Wondering what attracts mice? The number one answer is “food.”

Many people think they have their kitchen and pantries well-organized and the food sealed off. However, the devil is in the details.

Things like cereal bags that aren’t fully sealed off and plastic containers with the lid slightly ajar will end up attracting mice. Mice basically want to eat simple carbs and they’ll try to find anything that they can smell.

To avoid this problem, make sure everything is sealed tight: every bag, every box, and every bin. This should avoid attracting critters to the kitchen.

2. Bird Feeders

It’s tough to deny that birds are beautiful. And for many homeowners, looking at birds outside of their window is a really fun activity.

Some homeowners take this to the next level by installing bird feeders. They think the feeders will only attract birds; however, this is not the case!

Basically, anything that the birds don’t eat stays in the ground. This will be discovered by mice. They will then think, “hey, free food at this place!”

Even if you don’t have a feeder, a tree that drops things like fruits and nuts can have the same effect. To mice, this is like a free buffet.

3. A “Crumby” Situation

If you have kids (or just messy eaters) in your family, then you know what it’s like to deal with crumbs. And crumbs are annoying because they are so hard to clean.

Many of us clean the table or counter and think we’ve taken care of all the crumbs. In reality, the crumbs are often pooling into carpets, rugs, or in little corners where we can’t see them.

And you guessed it: these crumbs attract mice. As far as they are concerned, your house is great because you just leave food all over the place.

You can fight this by vacuuming up the crumbs and encouraging everyone to practice better kitchen hygiene.

4. Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

So far, we’ve focused on things like food that attract mice. However, this isn’t the only thing that can lure them to your home.

For instance, mice really like dark areas. This is why they are very often found in areas like basements and attics.

You can try to take care of this by improving the lighting in your home. And for areas that just don’t get much light, make sure to regularly inspect the area so you can find any unwanted visitors.

5. Your Can Overfloweth

Ever hear the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” For mice, this is pretty literal.

All of us are constantly throwing out food that we no longer consider edible. However, mice are likely to find our unwanted food very tasty, indeed.

What can you do to make sure your trash isn’t attracting mice? It’s a two-step process.

First, take your inside trash out in a timely manner. No one likes to do it, but this keeps mice out of the house.

Second, try to keep your outside trash cans as far from the house as possible. Even if mice get into the outside trash, keeping the cans further away will keep them from your home.

6. Pet Food Woes

Many of us have four-legged friends that we really love. This includes cats and dogs who have really healthy appetites.

The easy solution for feeding dogs and cats is to just pour their food into a big bowl or can. Unfortunately, mice are just as hungry for this food as your pet!

Any food your pet doesn’t eat stays in the bowl attracting mice. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes for this.

It’s possible to get automated feeders that are set to a timer. This will only release a certain amount of food at a certain time.

The end result? Less of a pet food snack selection for hungry mice!

7. Leaving Food Out

Earlier, we talked about issues like crumbs and open containers with food in them. However, an even bigger problem is when food is just outright left in the open.

This can happen when, say, a kid leaves a snack plate out at night with food still on it. Or even when adults leave plates with food on them in the sink overnight.

Fortunately, the “fix” for this is quite simple. Be sure to police children’s plates and eating habits and make sure all food is scraped off and put into the garbage can or disposal.

Don’t want hungry mice? Make sure they have nothing to easily eat in your kitchen!

8. A Crack Problem

We’ve talked a lot about the kinds of things that can lure mice into your home. But have you ever wondered how they are actually getting in the house?

The typical answer is that your house has a “crack” problem. That means there are small cracks and openings in the walls that the mice are able to easily squeeze through.

In addition to the cracks and openings in the walls, there may be openings under doors. Keep in mind that mice don’t need much space to get inside.

By removing the only way into your home for mice, you effectively keep them out of the house!

Mice in the House: The Bottom Line

Now you know more about what’s bringing mice in the house. But do you know who can help you get rid of them?

Here at Natura Pest Control, we specialize in every pest problem, including mice. To see how we can restore your home to order, contact us today!

https://naturapestcontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/mouse.jpg516756Naturahttps://naturapestcontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/natura-hi-res-with-padding.pngNatura2019-03-05 03:00:072019-02-09 17:02:28Stop Being a Mice Magnet: 7 Mistakes That Attract Mice in the House

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We have just begun our journey with Natura and we are VERY impressed with their prompt attendance to our needs, LESS THAN A DAY! Corbett did an excellent job, as did Jana, of explaining what he would do for our ant and mice problems, the materials used, and the safety of their products. They definitely excel at the personal touch and I recommend their services highly.

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I am a returning customer. My family moved and Natura is now taking care of us at our new home. Thank you for the excellent service. Our technician Daniel was very polite and professional not to mention personable. I highly recommend Natura Pest Control.

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I think we’ve been using Natura for about 2 years now–maybe longer? We have no pests and they seem to take care of the rodent population which is spurred on by the next door chickens. They are very reliable and always do a great job. I like the fact that they use safer products than other companies.

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I’ve been using Natura Pest Control for almost a year and find the people are great, and it has gotten rid of all the ants I had in my yard and in front of my garage. I haven’t checked for the carpenter ants I had in my wood pile, but expect they’ll be gone too.

Judy AndersonVancouver, WA

I am a fairly new customer of Natura and am very pleased with the results thus far. The technicians are very knowledgable and can help with any of our current challenges of pests around the house and/or in the yard. Our latest challenge is moles and they had a solution for that. The price per application is very reasonable. I would recommend this service to everyone.

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Natura has been servicing our house for over a year. Prior to that, we had experienced a great number of ants in our home and we are very happy to have them gone. My favorite aspect of Natura’s service is that I never have to hesitate to call if we have any pest problems. We once had a mouse in our attic and Natura was at our house the day after I called free of charge and, as we have pets and small children, chose the safest method of removal. Having a safe and reliable form of pest control has made a significant difference in our enjoyment of our home and yard.

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Been a customer for over a year now. Use services for ants and spiders. No more pests! If they should appear between services, Natura will provide additional application free of charge. Have passed their number to friends without hesitation.

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We love our pest control service, they go the extra mile making sure that they get all areas covered. I especially like that they also help with pest prevention in our lawn and they also get rid of the pesky bee hives up in the eves of the house.

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Natura Pest Control has taken every step necessary to ensure my back yard flea infestation is eradicated. When the standard procedures were not successful on my superfleas, the owner, Jake, specially ordered a different product to see if the fleas would respond. In addition, they continue to reschedule my appointment based on the weather report in order to apply particular products during their required rainfall. I could not be more pleased with the customer service at Natura Pest Control and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone and everyone.